Kalanchoe plant named ‘Desert Surprise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Desert Surprise’, characterized by its tall, upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit; green and dark purple bi-colored leaves with undulate and crenate margins; freely flowering habit; small red purple-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe humilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DESERT SURPRISE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe humilis, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Desert Surprise’.

The new Kalanchoe plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Kalanchoe plants with unique andinteresting foliage and flower forms and coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a self-pollination made by theInventor in Hinnerup, Denmark in January, 2008, of a proprietaryselection of Kalanchoe humilis identified as code number 0077, notpatented. The new Kalanchoe was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedself-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hinnerup,Denmark on May 12, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hinnerup, Denmarksince Jun. 9, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this newKalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Desert Surprise’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Desert Surprise’ as a newand distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe:

-   -   1. Tall, upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   2. Green and dark purple bi-colored leaves with undulate and        crenate margins.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Small red purple-colored flowers.    -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the parentselection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the parentselection primarily in plant uniformity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the proprietaryselection of Kalanchoe humilis identified as code number KJ 2008 5043,not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hinnerup,Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of theproprietary selection KJ 2008 5043 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the proprietary selection KJ        2008 5043 differed in leaf color as plants of the proprietary        selection had less pronounced dark purple markings.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the proprietary selection KJ        2008 5043 differed in flower color as plants of the proprietary        selection had white and dark purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Desert Surprise’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a top perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Desert Surprise’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the third sheet comprises close-up views of typicalvegetative (bottom left) and generative (bottom right) leaves, a sideperspective view of a typical inflorescence (top) and individual flowers(center) of ‘Desert Surprise’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Hinnerup, Denmark in a glass-coveredgreenhouse during the winter and spring and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial Kalanchoe humilis production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 19° C., nighttemperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10 kilolux to50 kilolux. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in 10-cm containersand received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours oflight) for about five weeks; plants then received photoinductive shortday/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering.Plants were 25 weeks from planting when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the detailed description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe humilis ‘Desert Surprise’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            humilis identified as code number 0077, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            humilis identified as code number 0077, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at            temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at            temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days            at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine to thick, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Tall, upright, uniform and moderately vigorous            growth habit; very freely flowering with numerous single            flowers developing per plant; narrow inverted triangle;            appropriate for 10-cm containers.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 35 cm to 40 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 22 cm.        -   Branching habit.—About two to five lateral branches develop            per plant.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 15 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 0.5 cm to 7 cm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 191B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length, vegetative plants.—About 4 cm to 11 cm.        -   Width, vegetative plants.—About 2 cm to 10 cm.        -   Length, generative plants.—About 3 cm to 11 cm.        -   Width, generative plants.—About 2 cm to 7 cm.        -   Shape.—Rotund to elliptical.        -   Apex.—Rounded to obtuse.        -   Base.—Rounded to cuneate.        -   Margin.—Undulate, crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; succulent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 138A; stripes, close to N186D; venation, close to            156D. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            Close to 138A; stripes, close to N186D; venation, close to            138A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm            to 6 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single tubular flowers            arranged in dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils;            freely flowering habit with usually about 40 to 80 flowers            per inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower            from April to October when grown in an outdoor nursery;            flower initiation and development can also be induced under            artificial short day/long conditions (at least 14 hours of            darkness) year-round in a greenhouse environment.        -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive            conditions, about 84 days are required; actual time to            flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and light            intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about eight weeks under interior environmental            conditions; individual flowers last about one week on the            plant; flowers persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 30 cm to 40 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm to 9 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 8 mm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Oblong to lanceolate. Length: About            1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: Towards the apex, close            to N74C; center and base, close to 138A with stripes, close            to 187A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: About four in a single whorl fused at            the base into a tubular shape. Length: About 4 mm. Width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Roughly ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            N74C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N74C;            stripes, close to 77B; color does not fade with development.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About            2 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 191A; stripes, close to N186D. Color,            mature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 191A; stripes,            close to N186D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 15 cm to 25 cm. Diameter: About 2            mm to 8 mm. Aspect: About 45° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Color: Close to            191A; stripes, close to N186D.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm            to 1 mm. Aspect: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Color: Close to            191A; stripes, close to N186D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight            per flower. Anther shape: Rounded. Anther size: About 0.8 mm            by 0.8 mm. Anther color: Close to 34B. Amount of pollen:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 20B. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: About eight per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm.            Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to N146C.            Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 146C. Ovary            color: Close to N186D.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: About 40. Length: About 0.9 mm.            Diameter: About 0.25 mm. Color, immature: Close to 145D.            Color, mature: Close to 166A.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoes.

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Desert Surprise’ asillustrated and described.